too scared or too old to learn

I'm supposedly in my prime (30's) am I too old to learn jumps,drop offs, gap jumps etc or is it just the fact I'm clipped in and scared to hell of coming off and breaking something. I eve came to a steep section and couldn't do that.

Steatly Woods and Quarry are something to behold!! People were flying over stuff with ease

I'm not in my 30s yet so cant really say but I'd say you can still learn. I'd just go to somewhere quiet with some tables that you can do or nearly do and you should become more comfortable with practice. Then just gradually push yourself. I've never really fallen off jumping unless I push myself miles out of my comfort zone.

I don't think so. I know several very good riders who only really started jumping etc well into their 30s. Take it slowly though and, without wanting to start another pedal debate, yes try flats. Most difficult thing for learning, in my experience, is finding somewhere with well built jumps to learn on. A BMX track, pump track or any of the trail centre skill areas would be a good place to start. Do it!

The BMX track I have in my head is overrun my kids doing mental stuff!! I might have to get up early and go!

There's a skate/bike park 10 mins ride from my work. I keep thinking about nipping over there at lunchtime (during school time!) to have a go - far too lame to do it when the kids are there to judge me!!

you're never to old to learn new things on a bike...
stick some flats on and go and have a play about with someone who has the experience and can teach you.
be aware of your limits but also be prepared to push yourself beyond that one small step (or jump) at a time...2 of my ex colleagues did exactly this after being scared initially and they're both in their mid 50's. i'm not saying they are experts but now they're more confident on the bike in general as a result of learning something new to them...

You will never be as good as the kids at a BMX track!
I only got my first proper MTB in 2008 and can pretty much do everything you mention to a survivable rather than skillful standard
All self taught at the age of 45+ which probably accounts for my complete lack of finesse. Everyone suggests skill sessions which is probably a very good idea but I just practised and fell off a lot in the park at night when the rad skillz crew weren't around.
Flat grippy pedals gave me more confidence and find jumps with soft landings
Wish I was in my thirites and just starting out.
Face the fear and do it anyway as they say.

I turned 48 yesterday (or was it 47, cant do the maths). Anyway, Im really enjoying learning to do gaps, doubles etc properly.

Its all in your mind. The actual skills you need are very simple and few, you just need to practice them and learn as you go.

But you need to practice them properly, with some feedback. I learned the most when with a mate and we spot each others technique (or lack of). Find someone who knows how to do it properly and learn with them.

When you're out on a ride, rather than just getting your head down and getting round, pick one feature of that ride and session it for half an hour or more. Whether it be a small jump, drop, rock garden, technical climb. Skills courses are good, they'll teach you what you should be doing and give you the opportunity to practice it for a short while, but when the lesson is over and your're out on the trail by yourself or with friends, you've still got to put into practice what you've learned - that is the only way you'll build up your confidence and skills - by doing it. Start small, session, work your way up.

I'm late mid 40s and having a boatload of fun getting to grips with the Patriot I've just built.
Did an Ed Oxley jumps and drops course a couple of years ago and have enjoyed getting airbourne ever since. I rode clipped in then for exactly the opposite reason to you (I wanted to make sure there was still a bike under me when I landed and was terrified that we might part company in mid air with flats) but I've since swapped to flats and much prefer them now.

I was in the local words on Sunday and two chaps had built a pretty substantial gap jump. One of them must have been well into his forties, closing in on fifty and he was totally pinning it. Being almost 30 I felt a bit pathetic!

Start small and build up from there...I've always preferred tables and kickers to a gentle transition just in case.Can ride doubles though but not down owt huge.

Im with the Jedi quotes above! until 2 weeks ago i was too scared of doing drop offs and gap jumps. I went on a jumps and drops course with jedi(uk bike skills) and last week i done every jump and drop on the surface to air track at Aston hill. Once I got taught a technique i found it easier to confront my fears.

Im 29 so still a youngster in your eyes but i proved its possible.

Also dont ever feel pressured in to doing something, do it when YOUR ready for it, if its a risk your taking then its only human to be scared, get over it and go big.

Mid 40's. Broke my collarbone on a very modest jump. I put it down to the fully rigid bike rather than absence of slill . My sons laughed. A skills course beckons, but I prefer the wheels on the ground, personally.

Look at the photo above posted by onewheelgod,(this is one of the training jumps at ukbikeskills) the table top side of the jump was fine, but it took several attempts before id attempt the 'gap' side on the left, exactly the same jump but the gap really messes with your head. I believe that its doing that jump correctly that has cured me.

Fast? er no, in fact, you'd be amazed how slow you can go with the proper technique. On that famous herts table, you roll in from about 15 feet away without pedalling on a not very steep slope! it's all about the pump